Machines for feeding belted axial lead components to unbelting, straightening, trimming and ejecting stations



C. J. GROSS Sept. 30, 1958 2,854,054 MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING` ANDl EJECTING STATIONS n 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1956 In uen to r Char/es J Gross Bg bis AO/wey Sept. 30, 19.58

c. J. @Ross 2,854,054 MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING Filed Nov. e, 195e AND EJECTING STATIONS 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 In l/en far Ch C17/Zes J Gross By his Aitor/76g Sept. 30, 1958 c. J. @Ross MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED. AXIAL LEAD COMPONENT TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 6, 1956 In ven'or Char/es J Gross i By /I/S Azorney C. J. GROSS Sept'. 30, 1958 9 MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING. TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed Nov. 6, 1956 15 She'etS-Sheet 4 Inventor Charles J Gross By his Azzor-mgy 2,854,054 BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS -15 sheets-sheet 5 C. J. GROSS AND EJECTING STATIONS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING l Il. T llllllllql MACHINES FOR FEEDING www Sept. 30, 1958 Filed Nov. 6, 1956 Inventor Char/es J Gross By /2/'6 A ttor/:ey

Sept. 30, 1958 c. J. G'Ross 2,854,054

MACHINES FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, -TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed Nov. 6, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 84 Inventar Char/es f Grass.

80 By /z/ls Attorney MACHINES FOR FEEDIN BEL-TED AXIAL. LEAD COMPONENTS T0 UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS sept. 3o, 195s c `J 'GROSS 2,854,054

14a Inventor [46 "Charles Gross By his Attorney I Sept. 30, 1958 c. J. @Ross 2,854,054

MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed Nov. 6, 1956 A15 Sheets-Sheet 8 v Inventor Chg/les J Gross By his Attorney Sept. 30, 1958 c. J. GRoss 2,854,054

MACHINES FOR FEEDING BEL-TED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed NOV. 6, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 /6'5 Magri) l Inventor Char/e5 J Gross Sept 30, 1958 c. J @Ross 2,854,054

FEEDING BLTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS MMING MACHINES FOR TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRI

AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed Nov. 6, 1956 l5 Sheets-Sheet 10 "756 AInventor 41` Char/es tI Gross By his Attorney Sept. 30, 1958 c. J. GRoss 2,854,054

MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed Nov. 6, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 Sept- 30, 1958 c J GROSS 2,854,054

MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed Nov. 6, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 Inventar Cz arles' UTG/"OSS .By his Attorney SePf- 30, 1958 c. J. @Ross MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Nov. 6, 1956 I r11/en far Char/e5 J Gross By his Aitor/76g Sept. 30, C. J. GROSS MACHINES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Filed Nov. 6, 1956 Inl/'en for CarZes JGY'OSS By his Attorney www l5 Sheets-Sheet 14 Sept. 30, 1958 Filed Nov. 6, 1956 c. J. @Ross MACHINES FOR FEEDING'BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS TO UNBELTING, STRAIGHTENING, TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS l5 Sheets-Sheet l5 MMM United States Patent O 2,854,054 MACHBES FOR FEEDING BELTED AXIAL LEAD COMPONENTS T UNBELTING, STRAIGHTEN- ING, `TRIMMING AND EJECTING STATIONS Charles J. Gross, Winchester, Mass., assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 6, 1956, Serial N o. 620,670 9 Claims. (Cl. 153-39) This invention relates to machines for processing axial lead components, and more particularly to mechanism for straightening, cutting, and delivering a plurality of belted components from their respective supply reels for application to electrical equipment. The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a series of similar operating units each of which is adaptable to process successive electronic components within a size range and having characteristic electrical functions, and it will be appreciated that the invention in its various aspects is not limited to the particular construction herein shown by way of example.

Electronic assemblages normally include a plurality of assorted components a large number of which perform different electrical functions and have dissimilar body shapes but which, prior to their connection into a circuit, were similar in that they each had a pair of leads extending axially. Because of the marked tendency for these leads, which commonly are of soft copper wire, to become bent, and the large numbers of such components which are required to be individually mounted, the cornponents of one size and function are often belted together in a row as by tape extending across their leads or bodies and the belted components are then reeled to provide a convenient form for storage and/or to facilitate mechanical feeding by automatic means. As furnished commercially the coaxial leads of the various types of components are of a length normally greater than required neatly and eiectively to complete the electrical connection in a circuit. Accordingly, whether the assemblage to be constructed includes a circuit board or is one comprising a different type of base or component holder for receiving the several components in predetermined arrangement, one or both leads of each component must ordinarily be severed to the correct length prior to installation. Upon being unbelted and cut to the appropriate length the required number of each type of component must be transferred into correct operating positions for connection in an assemblage without altering their physical or electrical characteristics except as may be intended.

In view of the foregoing it is an object of this invention to provide an improved versatile machine for processing successive groups of selected axial lead type components and then transferring them endwise into their respective operating positions in an electrical assemblage.

In accordance with this object, and as a feature of the invention, the illustrative machine comprises a series of operating heads each adapted to prepare an axial lead component for mounting, means for feeding successive components to each head, and means for pneumatically r ice jacent to said severing means and extending to transfer each lstraightened and severed component from the head to an operative position in a work piece, and pneumatic means for dispatching the successive straightened components through said tube.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described in connection with an illustrative machine in which the invention is embodied and with reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, in which:

Fig. l is a 'schematic diagram of a machine illustrative of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the major portion of the left-hand or driving end of the exemplary machine for processing axial lead components, a single operating head being shown and others not shown in detail (but similar to it) being coupled thereto in a row extending to the right as indicated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation and partly in vertical section of clutch mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the head shown in Fig. 2 and looking to the left in that figure;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but with the frame partly removed and portions broken away to disclose operating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of an indexing wheel and sprocket housing shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line IX--IX of Fig. y8 and showing preliminary lead cutting means;

Fig. 10 is a view partly in section taken on'the line X-X of Fig. 9 and showing a component in preliminary lead cutting position;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line'XI-XI of Fig. 8 and lshowing successive components being transferred into contacting relation with a probe;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a component carrying sprocket and trans-fer slide shown in Figs. 8 and 1l;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the broken line XIII- Xlll of Fig. 6 and showing the head operating mecha-- nism in rest position;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line XlV--XIV of Fig. 13; y

Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line XV-XV of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow XVI in Fig. l5 and showing the transfer `slide returning with a component;

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7 but with parts removed and showing lead straightening means and component delivering means;

Fig. 19 is a detailY view of a finishing station in the head and showing the lead straightening means and final lead cutting means;

Fig. 20 is a view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18 but looking in the direction of the arrow XX;

Fig. 2l is a section taken on the line XXI-XXI of Fig. 6 indicating a portion of the head at rest and showing pneumatic component ejection mechanism;

Fig. 22 is a horizontal section of the ejection members of the finishing station;

Fig. 23 is a section taken on the line XXIlI-XXIII of Fig. 20 and illustrating the lead presser `or straightening means;

Fig. 24 is a section corresponding with Fig. 23 but showing the parts after straightening a component that is ready to be delivered;

Fig. 25 is a schematic View illustrating progressively The illustrative machine comprises a bank of component processing heads A, B, C, D, E (Fig. l), only the left-hand one of which (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2), generally designated A (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7) is shown herein in detail in view of their similarity in construction and operation. The heads are coupled in a row for simultaueous operation on their respective electronic components 30 (Figs. 2, 6, 10, 12 and 22), having axial leads 32, 34. Each head is adapted to process its components successively when fed thereto in belted row formation from a supply reel 36 (Figs. 2, 6). Some of the heads may be adjusted to operate upon components of different body and lead size than others, and it will be understood that the number of heads employed depends on the number of components, such as resistors, capacitors, and the like, which it is desired simultaneously to process and mount in a particular electrical assemblage, the assembly of Fig. 1 being schematically shown as receiving ve components in selected positions. The several heads are mounted upon a cabinet 38, the lower portion of which houses, at the left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 2, a motor (not shown) for continuous operation of a drive chain 40, and test equipment 42. The latter forms no part of this invention, but is provided to reject components which do not measure up to standard and to trip clutch mechanism, generally designated 44 (Figs. 2, 3, and 4) that starts a machine cycle when test conditions are satistied. The clutch 44 likewise forms no part of this invention and need not be particularly described herein, but is actuated upon receipt of a signal from the test equipment 44 by means of a solenoid 46 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) connected thereto. The clutch is of the one-revolution type having a pair of pins 48 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) rotatable into or out of driving relation, and accordingly a single revolution of a sprocket 50 meshing with the driver chain 40 may be caused to transmit a single complete revolu tion to a driven sprocket 52. This sprocket is coupled by means of a chain 54 (Figs. 2 and 13) and sprocket coupling to a main composite cam shaft 56 (Figs. 6, 13) which extends through the bank of heads and includes Oldham couplings 58 (Figs. l, 2) intermediate to the heads. Subsequently described sets of similar cams and connecting linkage controlled by the shaft 56 are eective to actuate the operating mechanism of each head.

The head A is largely enclosed in a rectangular frame 60 provided with a top cover 62. Having selected the particular reel 36 of axial components to be processed by the head A, their leads being belted or tiexibly connected as by tapes 64, 64, a normally depending reelcarrying lever 66 pivoted to an inner side of the frame 60 may be swung forwardly to a re-load position, indicated in phantom in Fig. 6. A spring-backed detent 68 in the frame is biased to extend into one of two holes 70 in the lever to hold it horizontally until a bored hub of the reel is rotatably mounted or demounted with respect to a cylindrical tubular end portion 72 of the lever and then to extend into the other hole 70 to maintain the lever in a vertical operating position. For frictionally holding the reel against over-travel on the portion 72 when lowered into normal operating position, a spring or squeeze-type retaining latch 74 is inserted into the portion 72 and enables the reel easily to be removed when desired. The row of belted components is fed upwardly and over an axially bored sprocket wheel 76 (Figs. 7 and 12) of non-conducting synthetic liber, the wheel having peripherally formed thereon a plurality of axially alined and spaced rows of teeth 78, successive pairs of teeth being arranged and adapted to receive between them portions of a lead of a component extending between its body and a tape 64. It will be noted (Fig. 12) that since the leads 32 are shorter than the leads 34, the latter are engaged by an additional and wider row of sprocket teeth 80 also formed integral with the wheel 76. This wheel is annularly recessed, as indicated at 81 (Fig. 10) to accommodate the component bodies and hold them against endwise displacement. The sprocket wheel 76 is mounted on the left-hand (as viewed in Figs. 8 and l0) end of a tubular shaft 82, the right-hand portion of which constitutes an enlarged hub 84 having concentrically secured thereon, for reasons later explained, an index wheel 86. The shaft 82 threadedly receives a nut 88 for clamping the sprocket wheel 76 against the hub 84 and coaxially receives a xed shaft 9i) supported in the frame 6l). Clockwise rotation of the indexing wheel 86, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, by means next to be described, is transmitted to the sprocket wheel 76 by a spline 92 (Figs. 9, 10 and 11).

y Indexing mechanism For insuring that successive components being advanced between consecutive pairs of sprocket wheel teeth 78, 80 will arrive in appropriate positions in which to be operated upon by diiferent cyclically actuated instrumentalities, these instrumentalities and the indexing wheel 86 are operated in time relation from the common, main cam shaft 56 (Figs. 6, 13). Thus, referring to Fig. 7

' for obtaining appropriate rotation of the sprocket wheel 76 to provide intermittent feed and dwell of the cornponents, cam actuated escapement means, including an indexing pawl 94 and a holding pawl 96, is employed. The indexing pawl 94 is pivotally carried by a lever 98 which is itself fulcrumed at to the frame 60, and the lever 98 is operated by a cam lever 102 connected thereto by a link 104. One end of the lever 102, which is pivoted at 106 to the frame 60, carries a roll 168 that is arranged to cooperate with an indexing cam 110 (Figs. 7 and 13) secured on the shaft 56 and having a single salient 112. A tension spring 114 (Fig. 7) connecting the lever 102 with the frame 60, normally maintains operative engagement between the roll 108 and the cam 110,

and a tension spring 116 connecting an end of the pawl 94 with the lever 98 urges the opposite end of that pawl into engagement with the consecutive, biased teeth peripherally formed on the indexing wheel. The holding pawl 96 is pivotally mounted in an indexing wheel and sprocket wheel housing 118, and has a lower, acute end shaped to mesh with the successive indexing wheel teeth to hold them against counterclockwise movement, as

viewed in Fig. 7. This pawl end is yieldingly held in such engagement by means of a compression spring 120 engaging endwise the opposite end of the pawl and seated in a recess formed in the housing 118. The latter is a composite unit normally disposed so that its under surface is substantially concentric with, and closely adjacent to, the sprocket wheel 76, and includes a formed insert provided with an arcuate recess 121 (Fig. 11) for accommodating upper halves of the row of component bodies being fed. To permit easy access for inspection, adjustment, or substitution of parts, the housing 118 is pivotally supported on a rod 122 (Figs. 2, 7, 8, and 9) journaled transversely in the front of the frame 60. A spring-backed plunger 124 (Fig. 8) retractably extending through the frame 60 and serving normally to support the housing in operative position is withdrawn endwise from its receiving bore 126 in the housing to permit it to be elevated upon removal of the top cover 62. lt will be understood from the foregoing that each single revolution of the indexing cam 110 operates through the linkage described positively to cause the pawl 94 to advance the sprocket wheel 76, and hence the plurality of components carried thereby, by the amount of the pitch of the indexing wheel teeth, and then permits the components to dwell in that interval in which the pawl 94 is retracted to the right as viewed in Fig. 7.

Vpickoc position. -zontal reciprocable movement on a block 148 having a .In order to separate or strip the successive belted .components from the tapes 64, preliminary lead cutting means (Figs. 7 and 9) is .provided to operate on each successive component in one of its positions of dwell.

.As clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10, there is bolted to an end of the housing 118 a pair of xed lead shearing anvils 130, 130 arranged to cooperate respectively with a pair of V-notched knives 132, 132 which are carried heightwise to and from their operating positions by means of a lever 134 fulcrumed at 136 on the housing 118. The lever 134 is actuated at appropriate intervals by a link 138 the lower end of which is formed with a lost-motion slot 140 (Fig. 7) for slidably receiving a pin 142 xed in the pawl operating lever 102. In their normal, or rest positions the knives 132 are in engagement with the shearing anvils. Accordingly, upon rapid descent of the roll 108 from the salient 112, 'as effected by the spring 114, the link 138 is forced upwardly by means of the pin 142 in the lever 102 to cause the knives 132 to slide on the confronting end surfaces of anvils 130 to sever the leads of a component. A tensionspring 144, connecting the pin 142 and the link 138, operates during indexing to raise the knives 132 preparatory to severing the leads of the next component.

Component transfer mechanism Means is provided for removing successive components from a pick-off point on the sprocket wheel which is on a horizontal with its axis. Referring to Figs. and 26, just prior to indexing the wheel 76 by the means described a T-shaped transfer slide 146 is advanced toward the The slide 146 is mounted for hori- 'guideway 150 (Figs. 15, 20) for receiving a tongue of the slide. The block 148 is secured on a U-shaped supporting bracket 152 bridging the frame 60. A carrier block 154, having a groove 156 adapted to accommodate the lower half of a component body, is provided with a depending stem that is slidable vertically in a bore formed in the transfer slide 146. The block 154 is yieldingly urged upwardly by a compression spring 158 seated in the transfer slide, the heightwise limits of movement of the block 154 being determined by a pin 160 lixed in the slide 146 and extending through a vertical slot in the block stem. For controlling movement of the slide 146, the latter is connected to one end of an extensible link 162 (Figs. 7 and 14), which is connected at its other end to a lever 164 fulcrumed on a xed shaft 166 secured in the frame 60. The lever 164 carries a roll 168 which is held in cooperative engagement with a cam 170 xed 'on the shaft 56 by means of a tension spring 172 (Fig. 7), the latter connecting the lever 164 with a pin in the bracket V152. The carrier block groove 156 is thus brought into component receiving position, shown in phantom in Fig. 15, just as indexing is about to commence.- A springbacked retainer 174 is slidably mounted on the slide 146, a pin 176 fixed in the latter extending through a slot in the retainer to limit its horizontal movement. A shoulder 178 on the retainer is arranged to engage the housing 118 in the course of the advance of the slide 146 toward the component receiving position, thus causing an arm 180 of the retainer to uncover the groove 156. Upon being indexed, the sprocket wheel 76 delivers a component into the waiting groove 156, and the carrier block 154 is then retracted by operation of the cam 170 and the cooperating linkage described, the arm 180 insuring that the component does not escape from the groove. An adjustable stop screw 182 (Fig. 15), threaded into the block 148, determines the limit of retraction of the carrier `block 154 as appropriate for different sizes of components. In the course of retraction, each component is positioned ,endwise by an end gage 184 formed on a plate 186 (Figs. i15-17) secured to the housing 118, a leaf spring 188 6 axed to the plate being arranged to urge each component body against the end gage 184.Y The plate 186 is suitably slotted to accommodate the leads of the components.

Lead straightening means Upon return ofthe slide 146 to the rest position deter'- minedby the stop screw 182 (Fig. 15), the component occupies a dwell position for the balance of the cam shaft cycle. Referring to Fig. 26, the component is to be operated upon sequentially in the dwell by means of lead straightening mechanism, iinal lead severing means, and ejection or component delivering means. The straightening mechanism consists of alined upper combs 190,V 192 (Figs. 20, 23 and 24) which cooperate, respectively, with alined lower combs 194, 196. Each of these combs is formed with a row of vertical extending ngers 198 having V-notched ends and which are caused to be interdigitated so that upon cooperation of the combs the leads of a component are forced to lie on an axis coinciding with that of the component body. For a reason later' to be made clear, it is vto be noted that the spring 158 is normally effective to maintain the component, when free and exposed on the carrier block 154, at a level slightly above the fingers 198 ofthe lower combs 194, 196, but yields during lead straightening to the 'limit determined by the pin 160 (compare Figs. 23, 24). The combs 194, 196 are respectively mounted in a dovetail fashion on the transfer slide block 146 by means of a gib or anchoring plate 200 screwed thereto. Pins 202, 202 (Figs. l2 and 19) respectively mounted in bores in the block 146, register the combs respectively thereon. In like manner, the combs 1 90, 192 are respectively secured to a block 204 by means of a clamping plate 206 screwed thereto and are registered respectively'on the block by pins 208, 208 (one shown in Fig. 19). The block 204 (Figs. '15 and 20) is bolted to a yoke 210 which is fulcrumed on the shaft 90. As indicated in Fig. 7, the yoke 210 normally supports the upper combs 190, 192 in an elevated or inoperative position. Slidably mounted in a vertical bore formed in the block 204 (Fig. l5) is the stem of a body block 212 arranged to cooperate with the retracted carrier block 154 and having a groove 214 formed to complement the groove 156 in protectively enclosing and securing and componentbody during lead straightening, as indicated in Fig. 23. Similar to the mounting of the carrier block 154, a compression spring 216, one end of which is seated in a bore formed in the block 204, urges the body block 212 toward the carrier block to the extent permitted by a screw 218 threaded into the block 204 and extending into a slot 220 formed in the mentioned stem of the body block.

In order to lower the upper combs 190, 192 into their straightening positions at the proper time in the machine cycle, an end of the yoke 210 threadedly receives a stud 222 (Fig. 18) having pivotal connection with the upper end of a link 224, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to one end of an operating lever 226. The other end of this lever is fulcrumed on the shaft 166. A follower roll 228 mounted on the lever 226 is yieldingly maintained in cooperation with a presser cam 230 keyed to the main cam shaft 56 by means of a tension spring 232 which connects the lever 226 with a projection (Figs. 13 and 18) secured to the supporting bracket 152. Accordingly, the salient of the cam 230 operates to pivot the yoke 210 clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 7, l5 and 18, and causes the component body yieldingly to be clamped between the carrier block 154 and the body block 212, while the fingers 198 cooperate to confine the oppositely extending leads to a straight line coinciding with the axis of the component body. As shown in Fig. 26, this lead pressing and straightening action occurs from approximately l to 215 of the cam cycle, the component `subsequently being released from the upper combs 190,

7 Fig. 24 by the further operation of the cycle of the presser cam 230.

Final lead cutting means At about the middle of the interval in which lead straightening is occurring, means are actuated to sever both of the leads of the component to precise lengths as needed for its particular installation. In some assembly work this second lead cutting may be omitted (the initial lead trimming being considered suihciently accurate), and then, of course, the parts otherwise operative for further severing may be omitted from the machine or made inoperative. Referring primarily to Figs. 7, 13, 14, 19, and 20, a pair of beveled V-shaped knives 234, 234 is disposed to be moved into shearing relation with the outer faces, respectively, of the lower combs 194, 196, as indicated in Fig. 20. Each of these knives is adjustably secured by screw-and-slot connection to corresponding ends of bellcrank levers 236 which are respectively pivotally mounted on opposite ends of the block 148. Accordingly, for simultaneously actuating the knives 234, the other ends of the levers 236 are respectively connected to parallel arms of a yoke 238 by means of links 240, 240. The yoke 238 is fulcrumed on the shaft 166 and carriesa roll 242 for cooperative engagement with a cut-oi cam 244, such engagement being yieldingly maintained by a tension spring 246 connecting an end of the yoke 238 with the same projection of the bracket 152 to which spring 232 is connected. The cut-olf cam 244 is keyed on the main cam shaft 56.

Component delivering means With the component leads straightened and precisely cut, and the straightening and severing means, as well as the body block 212, cleared from engagement with the component, as shown in Fig. 24, the component is supported on the carrier block 154 in an exact position in readiness to be delivered for installation in its assigned position in an electrical assemblage. For this purpose, an air ejection system is applied to the component in the last portion of the machine cycle in the manner now to be explained. Referring to Figs. 13, 21, and 22, a pair of equalizer levers 250, 252 is pivotally mounted at 254, 256, respectively, on the supporting bracket 152, the upper end of the lever 250 having trunnion engagement with an annular slot 258 formed in an outlet or receiving nozzle 260. The latter is disposed to have its axis coincide with that of the straightened component, and is arranged for movement toward and from telescoping relation with the component (preferably the shorter lead end thereof), being slidably mounted on a sleeve 262 secured to a tubular coupling 264 (Fig. 22) axed to the frame 60. An adapter 266 threaded onto the coupling receives a exible delivery tube 268, preferably of transparent plastic, which is thus in communication with the receiving nozzle 260, and extends to guide and deliver the component endwise to a lead forming station, if necessary, or otherwise directly into its selected or intended operating position on a chassis or in a component holder. The upper end of the lever 252 is provided with an inlet or ejecting nozzle 270 that is arranged to be moved into axial alinement with the component, both nozzles being thus moved by means next to be described.

The lower ends of the levers 250, 252 are respectively connected by links 272, 272 (Fig. 21) to one end of a lever 274 which is pivoted at its other end on the bracket 152. For actuating the lever 274, a rod 276 having ball and socket connection therewith is moved endwise by reason of its association with a cam lever 278 (Figs. 18 and 21). The rod 276 slidably extends through a bore formed in the lever 278 and is threaded at its lower end to carry a nut 280. This nut engages one end of a loaded return spring 282 that is thus adjustably forced yieldingly to bear endwise against the cam lever 278 to urge it upwardly against a stop nut 284 on the rod 276. A tension spring 286 (Figs. 7, 18) connecting the bracket 152 and the lever 278 maintains a roll 288 (Figs. 18, 21) on the lever in cooperative engagement with a delivery cam 290 fast on the cam shaft 56. The arrangement is accordingly such that when the salient portion of the cam 290 is effective to swing the nozzles 260, 270 simultaneously into their operating positions closely adjacent to the component and against the resistance of the spring 282 by pivoting the lever 278 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 18, a stud 292 threaded into the lever 278 is depressed yieldingly to actuate a switch 294 which thereupon acts to open a normally closed valve 296. This valve is coupled to a tube 298 communicating with a bore 300 in the lever 252, the bore 300 in turn communicating with the ejector nozzle 270. Since the tube 298 is effectively connected with a suitable source of air under pressure (not shown), upon operation of the valve 296, a blast of air is discharged from the nozzle 270 and directed upon the component to eject it from Vthe machine via the tube 268. Upon delivery of the component, the roll 288 now being permitted by the cam 290 to rise, the loaded spring 282 is effective to urge the lever 274 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2l, and hence the air discharged is cut off and the nozzles are returned to their inoperative positions.

Cooperation with component testing means It has been assluned above that the components being prepared and delivered as described were satisfactory from an electrical standpoint. The component test equipment 42 (Fig. 2) may be of any suitable type adapted to determine and pass upon the acceptability of the particular components being processed. As above indicated, when a component satisfies test conditions the clutch 44 is effective through the solenoid 46 to turn the entire composite cam shaft 56 through a single revolution, thus operating the bank of machine heads simultaneously. The test equipment is electrically connected to a pair of probes 302, 302 (Figs. 8 and l1), respectively mounted in levers 304, 304 pivotally carried by the housing 118, the lower ends of the probes preferably being arranged to be engaged by the leads of a component adjacent to the teeth 78 and at its dwell point just preceding the pick-olf or transfer point above mentioned. It will accordingly be observed that as a component is being tested the transfer slide 146 is fully retracted from the sprocket wheel 76. Each probe has the lower limit of its lead engaging position (normally set to clear the lands on the sprocket wheel by one-half the lead diameter) adjustably determined by a stop screw 305 threaded in a lever 304 and abuttinD the housing 118 endwise, the probes being yieldingly urged into such positions by compression springs 306 seated in the housing 118 and engaging the levers 304 respectively. In order that the test equipment may be conditioned to make a test when the component has been indexed into testing position, a microswitch 308 (Figs. 2, 7 and 2l) is arranged on a bracket in the frame 60 and disposed to be actuated by a roll carrying lever 310, the latter being caused to be pivoted by the indexing lever 102. If the component fails to satisfy the test standards, the test equipment 42 operates to energize a solenoid 312 (Figs. 2 and 14). Consequently, while the slide 146 remains in retracted position in its cycle, a plunger 314 (Figs. 7, 14) of the solenoid 312 acts to pull downwardly a link 316 connected to the lever 102 and thus causes the wheel 76 and this tested component (which has been once indexed by the usual cam means heretofore described into pick-ofi position) to be reindexed by means of the pawl 94 as controlled by the solenoid-pivoted lever 102, the link 104, and the lever 98. As a result, the unsatisfactory component is allowed to be conveyed by the wheel 76 to a chute 316 (Figs. 2, 6 and 7) for dumping, along with waste tape and lead ends, into a pan 318, both chute and pan being mounted on the frame 60, and the succeeding component is tested. The arrangement is such that during the retraction dwell of the slide 146 as many as three components may be tested, and if found to be unsatisfactory, the solenoid 46 is automatically prevented from actuating the clutch until the situation has been examined.

From the foregoing description of the operating cycle of one machine head and its control means it will be apparent that the heads A, B, C, D, and E or any number of similar heads as required for assemblage of a required number of different components may be coupled to provide a reliable machine for simultaneously processing and rapidly delivering axial lead components into selected positions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for processing belted components having coaxial leads comprising a rotary sprocket wheel engageable with the leads of consecutive belted components to space them in a row, -means for removing the components from their belting as they are advanced by the wheel, means for indexing the wheel to deposit successive components on a carrier movable relatively thereto, means for moving the carrier in time relation to said indexing means to transfer the succes-sive components to a lead straightening position, lead straightening means operable upon arrival of a component in said position, a tube for delivering each component endwise from said straightening position to a selected position upon straightening of its leads, and a pneumatic ejector nozzle mounted adjacent to said straightening position, said tube being arranged to receive the component upon operation of said nozzle.

2. Apparatus for processing coaxial lead components comprising a machine head, sprocket means in the head engageable with a plurality of belted components and their leads, said sprocket means being rotatable to advance the components successively in row formation, means for operating said lsprocket means intermittently, means mounted on the head and operative to unbelt the components consecutively while engaged by the sprocket and before reaching a transfer point spaced circumferentially thereof, a `carrier mounted for cooperation with said sprocket means and movable to transfer successive components from said point, lead straightening means mounted in the head for engagement with the leads of each component on said carrier when the latter is moved to a lead straightening zone, and means for ejecting the successive components from the head and in a prescribed path upon disengagement of the lead `straightening means from the components.

3. In a machine for processing axial lead components, lead straightening means including teeth arranged to act yieldingly within limits on the leads of successive components, a movable carrier for supporting each component by its body during operation of said lead straightening means on its leads, means acting on said carrier to support a component when straightened on an axis such that its body and leads are clear of said lead straightening means, and pneumatic ejection means operable to dispatch the straightened component along said axis.

4. Apparatus for processing axial components comprising a machine head, a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted therein having teeth adapted to engage a plurality of components spaced in row formation, means for operating said wheel to advance the components consecutively to a transfer point, a movable carrier mounted in said head and formed and arranged for receiving each component at said point and transferring it to a lead straightening zone, means mounted in said head and operable upon arrival of the carrier in said zone for straightening the leads of the component thereon, means operable in the course of the operation of said lead straightening means for severing the leads to selected lengths, and means thereafter operable to eject the processed component endwise from the head for delivery through a tube to a selected point.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and further characterized in that said apparatus is provided with a cam shaft and a single-revolution clutch for operating it, said Wheel operating means, carrier, lead straightening and severing means, and ejecting means being cyclically operated in time relation by connections including cams cooperative with said shaft.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 `and further characterized in that a plurality of Said heads are arranged in a row and individually adaptable to process axial lead components having different dimensions and electrical characteristics, the cam shafts of said heads being coupled to effect synchronous delivery of the different cornponents via their respective tubes.

7. Apparatus for processing components having axial leads comprising a head, means mounted in the head for feeding the components in belted relation and consecutively over a fixed path, means mounted in the head for severing the leads of successive components to uubelt them in the course of their travel, reciprocable means for carrying each unbelted component from a point in said path to a lead straightening zone, mechanism at said zone including lead straightening means operable to close automatically upon the leads of each component on the carrying means to cause them to coincide with the axis of the component body, means for trimming said leads as they are being straightened, means for ejecting each trimmed component from the head and along a selected path, and cam means for operating said carrying means in time relation to said feeding means and in time relation to the straightening means.

8. A machine for processing components comprising, a frame, a carrier movably mounted thereon and adapted to present the bodies of successive axial lead components to a lead ystraightening zone and then retract therefrom, a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame and having operative connection with the carrier, a pair of cooperative straightening tools mounted on the frame for movement into and out of the lead straightening zone, and cam means controlled by said shaft and operatively connected to said tools to cause lthem simultaneously to engage the leads of a component on the carrier and press them transversely into coaxial alinement with the axis of the body of said component.

9. In a component processing machine, a movable carrier formed to receive and support successive axial lead components by engagement with their bodies, a pair of cooperative straightening tools mounted for relative movement into and out. of transverse engagement with each of the leads of a component on said carrier to press said leads into coaxial alinement, cyclic means for moving the carrier to position an axis of the component thereon in predetermined relation to lsaid tools, means for automatically operating said tools when the carrier has thus positioned the component axis, 'a knife mounted for movement transversely of a lead of a component on said carrier, said knife being disposed to cooperate with a surface'of one of said straightening tools to sever the lead, and power means for operating said knife while said lead is being held straightened -by the tool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,513 Altman Dec. 7, 1920 1,870,584 Ostrom Aug. 9, 1932 1,910,687 Freeburg May 23, 1933 2,132,242 Lundeen Oct. 4, 1938 2,290,673 Cole July 21, 1942 2,650,415 `Kingman Sept. 1, 1953 2,713,362 Stahl `July 19, 1955 2,771,206 Daniels fNov. 20, 1956 2,772,416 Dorosz Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 83,552, Switzerland 'May 1, 1920 

